FIONA McMONAGLE

Plastic Jesus

30 Jun 2026 – 18 Jul 2026

"I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic Jesus."

– Plastic Jesus by Ernie Marrs

Plastic Jesus stems from a growing sense that many of the narratives we inherit to make sense of the world are no longer providing the certainty they once promised. In a time marked by conflict, inequality, and constant exposure to human suffering, familiar explanations can feel both comforting and insufficient, offering reassurance while struggling to account for the complexities of contemporary life.

Using fluid acrylic on raw canvas, these works draw on the vanitas tradition, where flowers and everyday objects reflect the transience of life. The unprimed canvas absorbs colour, allowing images to seep into the surface and reinforcing a sense of fragility and impermanence. Throughout the works, symbols of decay are juxtaposed with kitsch religious imagery. Seven flower paintings take their titles from the Seven Deadly Sins, exploring themes of desire, morality, imperfection, and human vulnerability.

The exhibition takes its title from the satirical folk song Plastic Jesus. Like the song, the works occupy a space between sincerity and irony, exploring faith, commerce, and the search for comfort. Positioned between the sacred and the kitsch, they reflect on the relationship between spiritual belief and the industries that grow around it. As one lyric observes, "Trouble coming He don't see, He just keeps His eye on me," capturing the tension between personal consolation and the realities beyond it.

At its core, Plastic Jesus explores how people seek meaning in an uncertain world. Religious imagery, fading flowers, and familiar symbols become metaphors for inherited beliefs, personal comforts, and the stories we return to in times of doubt. While some continue to resonate, others appear increasingly fragile and ill-equipped to explain the complexities of contemporary life.

Balancing satire and lament, Plastic Jesus explores what remains when certainty begins to fade. Rather than offering answers, the exhibition dwells in the space between belief and doubt, reflecting on the symbols and stories we cling to in search of meaning.

– Fiona McMonagle